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Handgrip exercise does not alter CO2 -mediated cerebrovascular flow-mediated dilation.
Shotaro Saito1, Hironori Watanabe1, Erika Iwamoto2
1Department of Biomedical Engineering, Toyo University, Kawagoe, Japan.
Experimental Physiology
|August 26, 2023
Summary
Acute handgrip exercise temporarily improved cognitive function but did not enhance cerebral endothelial function. This suggests that improved blood flow regulation isn't the primary mechanism behind the cognitive benefits of handgrip exercise.
Area of Science:
- Neuroscience
- Exercise Physiology
- Cardiovascular Research
Background:
- Handgrip exercise (HG) is known to improve cognitive function and is considered beneficial for maintaining brain health.
- The precise impact of HG on cerebral blood flow regulation, particularly endothelial function, remains incompletely understood.
- Cerebral endothelial function is crucial for regulating blood flow to the brain.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the acute effects of interval handgrip exercise on cerebral endothelial function in healthy young adults.
- To determine if changes in cerebral endothelial function mediate the cognitive improvements observed after handgrip exercise.
Main Methods:
- Participants performed 4 sets of 2-minute interval handgrip exercise at 25% of maximum voluntary contraction, with 3-minute recovery periods.
- Cognitive performance was assessed using the Go/No-Go task (measuring reaction time and accuracy) before and after exercise.
- Cerebral endothelial function was evaluated by measuring hypercapnia-induced cerebrovascular flow-mediated dilatation (cFMD) of the internal carotid artery (ICA).
- Internal carotid artery shear rate (SR) was calculated using duplex Doppler ultrasound.
Main Results:
- Cognitive performance, specifically reaction time, showed significant improvement at 5 minutes post-exercise (P=0.008).
- However, internal carotid artery shear rate during exercise and cerebrovascular flow-mediated dilatation after exercise remained unchanged (P=0.313 and P=0.440, respectively).
Conclusions:
- Acute interval handgrip exercise does not appear to enhance cerebral endothelial function in healthy young adults.
- The observed short-term cognitive improvements following handgrip exercise may not be mediated by an enhancement in cerebral endothelial function.
- The intensity or duration of acute handgrip exercise might be insufficient to stimulate significant changes in cerebrovascular shear rate and endothelial response.
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